That huge, roaring back-burner at Disneyland Paris might soon be put out. We've known about the Convention Centre, the new hotels, the Disney Village expansion since, it feels, time began. Now, they're finally good to go.,

As the official Disney Parks Blog posted a remarkably… unremarkable confirmation that the Shanghai Disneyland project is moving ahead, newspaper Le Parisien slipped out a fascinating article all about the future of our resort. Talking to Francis Borezée, Vice President of Resort and Real Estate Development, they summarise the next phase of development in the Val d’Europe district, from the expansion of Disney Village to the long-awaited new Convention Centre.

Most of this won’t shock or stun a keen follower of Disneyland Paris news, but one element certainly might: the addition of dates, the revelation that all this is finally due to be officially announced, very soon indeed. And, whilst a project being led by a huge Convention Centre doesn’t seem immediately exciting, the development and its surrounding expansions will change the landscape of the resort beyond recognition.

Where now, as soon as you reach the lonely IMAX cinema and games arcade, the old beet fields suddenly stretch as far as the eye can see, soon you’ll be at the heart of a whole new, very urban, Disney development, comprising the new hotels and Village expansion it so badly needs.

The reason none of these grand proposals come as a surprise? Because plans showing exactly these developments have been public for probably over a year now, showing the urban streets of Val d’Europe connecting up with the resort centre.

Francis Borezée notes that, after having developed 1,100 hectares of 1,943 ha available since 1987, the resort still has 15 years of development ahead of it. He confirms that Phase 4 of the Val d’Europe development is now in discussions with the state and local town councillors, and that the completion of various Phase 3 projects (housing and office developments, the town squares) will coincide with the launch of plans for the next phase of their private, resort expansion projects.

So here’s where it gets interesting: The Convention Centre, having waited to be green-lit for over ten years now, will see its first phase developed and built between now and 2015. For an investment of €100 million Euros, the “gigantestque” centre totalling 20,000 ha of floorspace will take shape on the land between the existing Vinci (Disney Village) parking lot and Newport Bay Club.

The article confirms a 750-room hotel will be included in this phase, stating “on the site”. As can be seen in the plans released, there are in fact plots for two new Disney Hotels nearby. It remains to be seen whether they’d choose the hotel next to the Convention Centre or the one across the road, joined onto the Disney Village expansion, to build first.

It also then confirms the new TGV Station, but — especially when you look at the plan they’ve drawn up themselves — seems to have the impression that this will be a whole new station. Technically, it won’t. Similarly stuck on the drawing board for a decade, this will merely be an additional entrance and exit to the platforms of the existing Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy station.

Slotted in right next to the Disney Village multi-story parking, it’ll provide a new booking hall and facilities on the South side of the resort hub, allowing convention-goers and Val d’Europe residents far easier access to the platforms, without having to cross the resort hub.

Next, something we all want to hear — “Parallel to this, the resort’s traditional tourism activity will continue to be developed, with the expected expansion of Disney Village and the construction of new attractions in the theme parks… which will be the object of an announcement at the end of the year”.

Continuing on, the report discusses new housing at Val d’Europe, the creation of parks and lakes as seen in the plans, plus developments to the Shopping Centre, which is apparently beating the economic crisis more than most similar malls. Join the news recently that Val d’Europe will become home to a brand new swimming pool Aquatics Centre, and the rumours of the French Open, and things are looking good.

But you’ve probably stopped reading now, right? Knowing that a completion date has finally been set for all those expansions, and the promise of imminent announcements for Disney Village and new park attractions later this year…

Comments

Am i wrong or can we already see Soarin on that map, beneath the ‘E’ of Existing partking? Hope this all will actually be executed. This seems to be a great addiditon to DLP, making it a real Disneyland again! But first, they will need to build some wonderfull rides too!

No, you’re right! It’s a strange plan they used for WDS though, because you can see Art of Disney Animation has an extra wing to its north (where Cars is now), which was where the Paris Feature Animation department was meant to relocate to (the department later closed anyway, so lucky they didn’t).

Something obvious I didn’t mention in the article — the plan above first appeared a year or more ago, so some details of the new developments may well have changed. But it all seems to match perfectly.

I wish they would make Disney Lake and the water near Val d Europe connect so there could be a boat service just as in Disney World Florida. Our Lake is just so empty it always gives me a depressed feeling. I wish there could be more boats, kayak’s ect. Or just a simple boardwalk or something. But when your at the end of our current DV street and hit the Lake it’s so sad.

“with the expected expansion of Disney Village and the construction of new attractions in the theme parks… which will be the object of an announcement at the end of the year” since Toy Story Playland has been annouced, I wonder what other attravtions they mean, or do they mean Toy Story Playland…..?

@Disney-John: They probably mean Toy Story Playland. Every inch of its publicity has been released, but Euro Disney SCA have yet to acknowledge or announce it, even to shareholders. Maybe if we’re lucky it could also include the Ratatouille dark ride and at least something for Disneyland Park?

@Dennis B: Absolutely! It’s great that they’re planning these university and sporting developments for Val d’Europe, so it has more to offer than just a big shopping centre or being “that place next to Disneyland”.

@Timbo: You’re right, such a short stretch of extra water needed there. Apparently these plans date from 2004 (shows how long they’ve been on hold), so you never know what has changed/improved…

Now, will the announcement be with the Annual Report on November 12th, or later?

@ Anthony: Will there be any other official moment to announce something like this in the rest of november or december?
I am very glad that the surroundings of the parks will get improved, the current Disnet Village isn’t that great.
I hope fot the attractions to announce at leat one bigger ride for DLP (Splash? Mermaid?), an improvement of the theaterdistrict, Ratatouille and another beautiful ride? (Of course I am expecting a little too much….)

There isn’t any other official moment, no. The only other time could be the First Quarter 2010 results in January. When they announced the last new attractions they were tacked onto the end of that in January 2005. It’ll be interesting what they announce, though… I’d actually be surprised if a full-scale Disney Village expansion was announced. Hopefully at least the big World of Disney store on the corner there is good to go.

This info is very much needed as I feel the financial results are not going to be very promising but if you show Investors that we are cutting back on manpower and resources but at the same time you are investing heavily in new infrastructure to come on stream in 2011 onwards when they should see a possitive upsurge in bookings and revinue across the resort.
Which will result in a big upsurge of employment within the Marne-la-vallee area.

DLP has the most amazing Magic Kingdom than the other disney resorts!
So i believe that disneyland paris can do a lot ,to expand the disneyland park and it’s from long ago attractions which never build but let’s wish in the next years these attractions would be come true! And then the walt disney studios with more than new atttractions and much more themeing!
i hope that disney village got an idea to do a very change village than now . just like in the buildings from Rome PARIS LONDON AND OTHER COUNTRIES!!!

Shanghai is a bad idea, The Walt Disney Company should stick to us, Hong Kong Disneyland (because over there its a even worse situation when it opened than we were) and Walt Disney World (They just need to get a few more Theme Parks like Disney Seas) .

Just yesterday I have found a new picture that tell’s how the new Disney Village and hotels will look like!
As you can see, they have been made up on the 25th of november 2010!
If this is true, I’m looking forward to the new place!

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